Stay connected to the work (and life) that matters through mobility

Beth Anne Ballance

3 months ago

Excited girl is jumping against a red wall

I travel quite a bit for work and getting work done on-the-go lets me wrap up loose ends away from my family so I can be fully present when I’m home. I’m currently writing this blog post from 40,000 feet in the air after sitting on the runway for 1.5 hours due to weather delays. What could have been a wasted day of productivity turned into an opportunity to focus, thanks to the trifecta of mobility – hardware (laptop), connectivity (the cloud), and security (Citrix Receiver).

Hardware

Eight years ago, when I worked for a retirement community, I worked off an archaic desktop. Every night at 5pm, I shut the computer off and went home, leaving files and work for the next day at 8am. With limited software and archaic hardware, there was no option for a remote desktop. If a client needed more attention, I had two choices – work late and miss time with my family or miss a deadline. These days, a laptop lets me come home, spend time with my family and still meet deadlines.

Connectivity

Thinking back to my first job, physical file folders were locked in a metal cabinet. If I was not in the office, I did not have access to my work. Today, at 40,000 feet in the air, I am able to access all of my files easily. I can download the most recent co-authored document, make my notes, and upload it back into ShareFile. Let’s say I left my laptop at the office but found myself awake at 5am on a Tuesday morning. That strategy deck that I’ve been looking for an extra hour in my day to work on? This is the perfect time! Despite not having my work laptop, I can download the file off ShareFile and work off my home computer.

Security

Modern hardware and connectivity are not necessarily best for your business if they’re not secure. Yes, working from an airplane or your home Wi-Fi is a wonderful way to balance home and office, but not at the risk of sensitive business data, client information, and opening your business to cyberattacks like ransomware. Having Citrix systems in place (like Netscaler, Receiver, ShareFile, and Citrix Mail) allows me to conduct business with confidence that my data is protected.

The future of work requires me to be mobile as a business and employee. I don’t have to miss the work that matters because of the life I love, and I don’t have to miss the work I love because of the life that matters.

As the professional landscape changes, we all must change with it to maintain relevancy and growth. Choose the right tools, both hardware and technology, and those tools can help catapult you and your business into the future of work.